to be a bit resentful about counting this as annual leave

[Ceci03]

So I was given an appointment to get a nat. ins. number - have recently moved to UK. It's during work hours. It'll take me about half an hour each way from work, and then however long I have to wait, or how long it takes. Luckily it's 1pm so some of it is in my lunch (half an hour for lunch) but boss says I need to take a half day a/l. I looked it up in the company regs and it only talks about medical appointments or dentists - go in your free time if you can, if not make it up. I asked her could I make up the time by coming in early if it doesn't take too long. She's thinking about it. Just feel my a/l is getting eaten away on this kind of stuff, and that she could be bit nicer about it - have moved from another country to take this job and no accommodation given, no expenses, I had to take a whole day when my furniture came too late for me to get to work that day. Don't mind that so much. But if I'm 5 mins late I have to take it out of my lunch. But she doesn't count if I'm in early - like today I was in 20 mins early. I'm often in early, or would leave a few mins late, but if she's going to be like this, I think I'm going to be out the door dead on time and go for a coffee if I'm in early. Just finding it hard to adjust. I don't think it's the 'company' I think it's just her. Realise how lucky I was with my last boss - she was so understanding of a sick kid, or traffic, or a delayed train. there was never an issue, and so in return I never had any problem staying late or working thru lunch. Work in an office.

Wrong, but I'd take it as leave if she insists then just have a day 'off sick' of your choosing later in the year. Just to feel better about it.

Am I the only person who is staggered that a manager can work only her hours, leaving at 4 on the dot every day and never ever needs to stay late?

OP, is your manager new to being a manager? It sounds as if she needs some training on “delivering through others.”

OP you say you have been on time apart from two occasions, but then say you are being told to make up 5 minutes. Being 5 minutes late isn't on time.
You sound quite entitled, you haven't actually answered whether this was an internal move but I assume given the notice periods it wasn't. You chose to relocate to another country, none of the issues surrounding it are your employers problem.

OP
Can you clarify whether you were hired by your company from overseas? Usually in that situation, the company's HR process visas, documentation etc. Often companies might provide accommodation to employees depending on location. Or relocation costs. It seems bizarre. You have been hired from overseas for a job in which you claim you often have nothing to do? And you have been repeatedly late or absent during effectively your probation period and don't understand why that is a problem? Doesn't make sense

@Mummyoflittledragon Loving it that you think you know my life....don't make assumptions.

I don't know it all, but come one...op moved from Ireland to the UK and she was planning it for over a yr according to other threads.

@BovaryX op came from Ireland. Of her own volition according to previous threads.

@MrsSchadenfreude To be fair, I have to leave on time every day to collect my child from school, but if I’m busy I log back on in the evening. She may be doing this too.

@Newbie1999 yes, I’ve done that too, but the OP made it sound like the manager logged off at 1600 and that was it!

I don't think Op counts 5 minutes late as late for work.

And she's moaning that she's been told to take a half-day for an appointment that may well over-run, after having form for taking time off for something that over-ran and therefore not turning up all day.

If she's being micromanaged over her time-keeping, it's not without cause.

It is possible that OP's boss is also being micromanaged. If she is new in role then she may feel that she is being scrutinised by her fellow managers.

We have this problem in my office. Official office hours are 9am to 5pm but there are a few managers who arrive before 8am. They are very quick to point out if a person from a different team is even a couple of minutes late (it's deflection because of problems in their own teams).

As a line manager this makes me super conscious when my report arrives a few minutes late. I know that other managers will be sprinting over to my line manager to point out that 'Bob' was late again. The fact that Bob will pull out all the stops including staying late to get jobs finished is neither here or there when there is deflection to be done!

If the manager is arriving at 8am then at a subconscious level she may already feel that OP is late even though the official start time is 9am.

All the other days I have been on time.
It's the clocking in that I feel is demeaning.
And being told to make up 5 mins
This doesn’t make sense. You either have never been late, or you have been 5 minutes late. 5 minutes is still late.
You said originally there were a few occasions when she looked for you at 9am and you weren’t at your desk, and you were probably getting water or at the loo. You’ve now said it was only occasion when you with IT. It all just smacks of making excuses.
You said to a pp that you think your boss feels threatened by you and is trying to exert her power. I think it’s more likely your manager is doing her job and managing you.
She asked you to email each morning and you have said previously there have been occasions you have forgotten of been late sending it.
Seriously email every morning at 9am “good morning boss, what are my tasks for today”
Or good morning boss, I’m going to work on project X it should be finished by 11am if you could let me know what you would like done after that”
Every night at 5pm
“Finished project X and Y, I still need to proof read Z I’ll have it to you by 10am tomorrow”

Other people may stand around chatting and drinking tea, you’re not their manager so it’s irregardless of what they do. You have been there such a short time now is the time to be proactive, punctual and efficient. In a few months when your manager has a chance to get to you know you and your capabilities you may find there is more flexibility but now keep your head down.

OP I am with you. For good managers I would work very hard. Bad managers make me hold back. Your manager is a bad manager. Stick the job out for a bit, then find a better manager.

Why are posters discussing the OP in the third person as I am now, as if she isn't here?

OP, a simple suggestion - just to cover your back. As your boss requires an email when you arrive at work, I would suggest that you also send her one just before you leave each night.
That way, she can see when you work over your allotted hours, and if there is any question about you not working enough time, you can pull up proof that you have more than covered the time that you should work each week.
It will take you five seconds if you set up a standard text - and could be useful in any dispute about your work ethic...

OP shouldn't be working late unless it's agreed with her manager that it's a business requirement.

So I've been at the station for half an hour was here in good time for the "early" train and all the trains r cancelled. There's supposed to be one at 840 if it comes. I can't stop
Crying . I emailed boss but she hasn't replied. Had to leave
Ds crying his heart out cos he is scared of school. Now I'm late. I don't know how people can have perfect punctuality. Hope I can get on this train when of comes it is so crowded now. So stressed

Why are so many managers of the do what I say not do what I do type.
Ours complain if we are not logged on to the system and doing something by nine o'clock. Yet they are at their desks eating breakfast and having coffee if we go over to query something at 9:15. (We cannot even have water in our work areas). They also have coats on and ready to go at 5pm.
Hope you don't get too much stick today op. Perhaps just mention the b word (bullying) it sends managers into panic mode.

Perhaps just mention the b word (bullying) it sends managers into panic mode
No it doesn't.
If a manager is doing their job and expecting staff to meet basic requirements of their job, including any additional checkups that may be required if there are already concerns, then mentioning bullying won't do anything.
Though it may well end up being flagged up to their manager as a potential problem, along with a list of concerns and what the manager is already doing to address the situation.

I don't know how people can have perfect punctuality
Most people don't have perfect punctuality. They have good attendance and punctuality so when one off situations occur nobody bats an eyelid and everyone understands.

For example:
A is late at least once a week with a few occasions where they are substantially late. A seems to think that being at work any time between 9am and 9:10 is on time so only consider their lates to be the "big" occasions. They grumble about being expected at 9am because they sometimes stay late (even though this isn't their hours).Their manager is having to keep an eye because this is regularly happening. A has decided the manager is a bully because they've only been late twice and they couldn't help being late/taking a whole day when a half day was booked etc. A spends time festering over their hours Vs the manager's hours on site, thinks the manager couldn't understand because they don't have children. Given the manager isn't keeping a close eye on other colleagues, A concludes the manager is a useless manager who is probably only commenting on punctuality because they feel threatened by how good A is and wants to put A in their place and show them who's boss.

B is punctual with good attendance. They work their 9-5. They aim to get their appointments/plans out of work or at the start/end of the working day where possible, though sometimes it's not possible and absence is required. Very occasionally they've needed to ask to leave a little early for their child's assembly and are happy to make the time at lunch. This is usually granted as a good will gesture from the manager. B knows the manager, like all managers, has their quirks, strengths and weaknesses but has no issue with the manager.

Nobody expects B to be perfect, but A would be foolish if they failed to see the difference in attitude.

No one has perfect punctuality.

Many people are reliably on time and have a good attitude so that when they are unavoidably delayed no one minds.

So long as you are communicating with your boss then likely there will not be a problem. Stuff happens on long/complicated commutes. I see that where I am, if one person is late then I know that others coming the same way will be affected.

I am a line manager. One of my reports was routinely late. There would always be an excuse/reason sometimes he wouldnt turn up again with an excuse/reason. It was always immensely stressful for me as other line managers would be asking where X was as they wanted to ask him something (also just to make the point that he was late). This has made me hypersensitive to lateness.

Has it occurred to you to ring her instead. It's more personal then sending an email if there's an issue.
That way you can discuss options together.